Edwaed eussell moeeis



(NoModL E. R. MORRIS.

EASEL.

No. 384,171. Patented June 5, 1888,;

rnpher. Waihmglon. o. c

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,171, dated June 5,1888.

Application filed April 28, 1885. Renewed December 14,1587. Serial No.257,908. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD RUssELL Mon- RIS, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Franciscoand State of California, have invented anew and useful Easel,of whichthe fllowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the improved construction of portable easels forthe use of artists, art students, and others, and especially adapted forsketching and outdoor work.

My invention consists, chiefly, in means for utilizing the stretchedcanvas-frame, panel,

board, or mill-board to be drawn upon or painted, as a component part ofthe easel itself, forminga rigid tie and connecting the two front legsthereof, and in means for imparting rigidity to the easel by ahead-joint ofim proved construction peculiarly adapted for the purpose.

The avantages of an easel constructed in ac cordance with my inventionare simplicity, cheapness, and portability, combined with remarkablelightness and rigidity, a siX foot easel complete, as shown in theaccompanying drawings, weighing only two pounds one and one-half ounce,(of which the brass slides weigh five and one-half ounces, and the bodyof the easel one and threefourths pound,) and being so rigid as topermit of its being lifted from the ground by the extremity of either ofthe legs without appreciably affecting the relative positions of eitherof them. The can vas-frame, panel, or board is quickly and firmlyattached to the easel, and my invention dispenses with the fixing ofscrews into the back of the said frame, panel, or board, and also withany attachment which may obscure any portion whatever of the face of thecanvas or project in front of theplane of the canvas-frame,either in theform of fasteners to hold it down, or tray, ledge, or other usual meansfor supportingit. The easel presents a minimum surface for the lodgmentof dust in dispensing with a tray or ledge, the use of which I findobjectionable in a studio,on account of the facilities thereby offeredfor the collection of dust.

I will now describe my invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are front and side eleare shown in detail inFigs. 8, 9, 10, and 11,

through which pass the frontlegs, and to which they are secured in anydesired position by means of screws 0. Through the slides at rightangles work the clamping-screws d, terminating in sharp conical points,which, screwed down upon the opposite edges of the canvasframe, fix itsecurely to the front legs,whiohit ties together, thereby stiffeningthem and contributing to the rigidity of the easel. To mauufacture theseslides cheaply in alight form,I stamp two recessed blocks or bosses ofbrass, c and f, around which I bend a strip of sheetbrass, cut in apress to the configuration shown in Figs. 14. and 15, so that the saidstrip looks into the recesses about 0 andf, and being set up in thepress at g, that end of the strip overlaps the other,and the whole isreadily secured to the blocks with small rivets, pins, or solder.

The dotted lines at H, Fig. 8, indicate the position of a canvas-frame.

Other equivalents may be substituted in place of the screws. Figs. 12and 13 show a cam, j, substituted for the screw 0.

Mind a greater degree of friction desirable than is compatible with thefree working of a head-j oint, which,moreover, has always a tendency towear loose, and that the stability of an easel is considerably increasedby tightening up the head-joint when the legs are in position. Itherefore construct the head-joint with means for readily tightening itwith the finger and thumb.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, and Figs. 5 and 7 side elevations,of theheadj oint.

The upper ends of the three legs J KL, c011 structed of pine, walnut, orother wood, are beveled, as shown at Fig. 6, the bevel-faces extendingbelow the screw m, which works loosely through holes in the legs, and isprovided with a suitable head, a, and nut 0, which bear uponmetal plates19, screwed 011 the outer sides of the legs JL. The tightening up oftheheadjoint tends to open out the front legs until their ends are aboutthree feet apart,when the faces of the bevels come close together. Thistendency is resisted by the canvas-frame, panel, or board that ties thesaid legs, and a rigidity that is very advantageous is imparted to theeasel. I secure the legs together when folded, Figs. 3 and 4, by twoleather straps, Q R, fixed on the back leg of the easel.

Not only canvas-frames and boards, but 0th er substances, as mill-boardsand French panels, are firmly held by the pointed screws (1.

To use the ease], I open out the legs to a convenient position, fix thelower slides at a suitable height, place thereon the canvasframe, panel,or board, upon which I lower the upper slides and fix them in thatposition. I then tighten up the screws d, and lastly the head-joint.

To protect the painted canvas from a sudden shower, or in the studiofrom dust, I loosen the head-joint and throw the back leg over in frontof the easel, thereby inverting the face of the canvas.

A freshly-painted canvas may be safely carried on the easel over theshoulder by fixing it between the clamps of the easel when closed, asshown at Figs. 3 and 4.

I do not limit the use of clamps as means of fastening the canvas-frame,panel, or board to the easel to the construction of easel herein shownand described, as they may be used with easels of any other form orconstruction, to which they can be applied advantageously, and I claimthem when used with such easels. Furthermore, I do not confine myself tothe use of sliding clamps, as other means of connecting the clamps withthe legs of the easel may be adopted without departing from theprinciple of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In an easel, the combination, with the legs,which are connected together pivotally and at the head-joint only, ofclamps placed on said legs and whichsupport the eanvas-frame,panel, orboard and connect the same with the legs, substantially as specified.

2. The combination,with thelegs of an easel, which are connectedtogether pivotally and at the head, joint only, of adjustable clampsplaced on said legs and which support the canvas-frame, panel, or boardand connect the same with the legs, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in an easel, of supportinglegs connected together atthe headj'oint only, and clamps applied to the front legs of the easel,against which the canvas-frame, panel, or board is placed and fastenedto the said legs by means ofthe said clamps, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with the legs of an easel, an adjustable pivot passeddirectly through the legs transversely and forming a head-j oint whichcan be tightened or loosened at will, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in an easel, oflegs having the upper ends beveled,the bevel-faces extending below the pivot, as described, and theadjustable screw-pivot forming a head joint which can be readilytightened, sub stantially as specified.

6. In an easel, the slides carrying the clamping-screws and providedwith suitable devices for being made fast to the legs, substantially asspecified.

7. In combination with the legs and canvas frame, panel, or board, theadjustable slides provided with clamping screws (7, substantially asspecified.

8. In an ease], the combination of the legs J K L, the adjustablehead-joint, the adjustable clamping-slides, and the canvas-frame, panel,or board, substantially as specified.

March 20, 1885.

EDWARD RUSSELL MORRIS.

\Vitnesses:

J. MAR UIs, W. B. MGOLELLAN.

